From Opus

Calidris mauri

Photo by alibenn.
Photo taken: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

[edit] Identification

Dark legs that has partially webbed toes (similarly much as Semipalmated Sandpiper, short thin dark bill, thinner at the tip with a kink that gives an impression of a downturned bill. Most birds have longer bills than Semipalmated Sandpiper but there is much overlap.
Breeding: pale basic color with many dark spots on underside and mantle, scapulars reddish-brown with black centers, reddish brown crown and ear-coverts. Semipalmated Sandpiper can also have reddish-brown but not as much as a fully marked western.
Winter: mostly pale grey upperside, white underside with whitish breast area. Semipalmated Sandpiper has darker ear-coverts and upper breast
Juvenile: rufous on upper scapulars producing a contrasting V on the back, pale breast and side + underside of head.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds in eastern Siberia and Alaska. Migrates on both coasts of North America, far more common on the west coast where 4 million can be found in one area. Winters in South America.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species

[edit] Habitat

Tundra and mudflats.

[edit] Behaviour

They nest in scrapes on the ground usually under some vegetation. The male makes several scrapes; the female selects one and lays 4 eggs. Both parents incubate and care for the young. Sometimes the female deserts her mate and brood prior to the offspring fledging.

The diet includes insects, small crustaceans and molluscs.

[edit] References

1. Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019

• List of references

[edit] External Links

• View more images of this species on Orientalbirdimages